• Pioneering plants will power 100,000 homes
• Huge boost for London’s renewable energy target
• Power and heat for homes in 2011
• Technology has worldwide potential
• Over 260 jobs secured

The renewable energy generator Blue-NG has chosen Land and Marine to build its first two renewable power stations. The Wirral based company will start work shortly on the first site at Beckton in East London.

Commenting upon the decision to appoint Land and Marine, Blue-NG’s Chief Executive Andrew Mercer said: “This was a very competitive tender which attracted high quality applicants. I’m confident that Land and Marine’s worldwide experience in this sector will enable them to deliver this pioneering project on time. The signing of this contract means we can now get on with the task of helping London to meet its renewable generation and carbon dioxide reduction targets.”

The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant fuelled by sustainably grown and locally sourced liquid biomass (rapeseed oil) will provide electricity for some 50,000 homes and heat for district heating or local industry. Blue-NG has developed a new model of CHP called Combined Heat and intelligent Power (ChiP) which will be located on gas pressure reduction stations owned by National Grid and the Beckton plant will be the first of its kind in the world. Heat from the engine will be used in the gas pre-heating process, which is a necessary part of the pressure reduction process.

A planning application for the second ChiP plant at Southall in West London is currently being considered by Ealing Borough Council and the Greater London Authority. Subject to planning consent, Land and Marine would start construction at Southall later this summer, with both plants due to be operational by the end of 2011.

The £110m contract secures the jobs of 25 engineers during the design phase of the works and a further 200+ jobs within Land and Marine and its supply chain partners. Bath based Blue-NG is looking to recruit up to 40 new staff as it plans to roll out more plants and technologies in the UK.

Mark Fairbairn, Executive Director of Gas Distribution at National Grid said: “Land and Marine have been trusted partners in many of our construction projects. I’m delighted that they will be helping Blue-NG to pioneer a new model of local energy generation and distribution from our gas pressure reduction stations.”

Adam Wynne Hughes, Managing Director of Land and Marine said:

“This award acknowledges the hard work of our Tendering and in-house Energy design teams and I am delighted to see Land & Marine working on such a prestigious project, contributing to the UK’s renewable energy targets.

Land and Marine continues to expand its capabilities within the renewable power plant market, complimenting the range of pioneering and innovative projects the business has undertaken within the UK and overseas during the past 50 years. This exciting and challenging project is a wonderful opportunity for all involved to build upon our past successes”